7 01, 2017

Souvenir Saturday: Nativity Star Schwibbögen

By |January 7th, 2017|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

A Schwibbögen is a Christmas arch candle holder made in Germany. This one is electric and is designed to be hung in the window. It features the Star of Bethlehem with a Nativity scene within it. Its tail has little stars and flourishes. Souvenir Saturday is an every-other week series on the items that represent travel memories.

6 01, 2017

Trevi Fountain at Night

By |January 6th, 2017|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

11 years ago today, on the Epiphany, I was standing in front of the Trevi Fountain on my last day in Italy. They say the first coin you throw in the fountain grants the wish that you will return to Rome. I'm still waiting on keeping that promise. Every Friday Lili shares her favorite photography & the stories behind the photos.

2 01, 2017

Travel Missteps: Running Around the World

By |January 2nd, 2017|Categories: Travel, Travel Missteps|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

I thought it would be a brilliant plan. After work, I'd run over to Epcot for their Food and Wine festival and get some dinner. Earlier that day I was able to get a discounted conference ticket ($75) for Epcot, a steep admission just to get dinner. I was also able to snag some last minute fast passes, one for Turtle Talk, another for Mission Space, and lastly one for the premium viewing spot for "IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth". It would be the first time going to Epcot (or Disney World for that matter) since I was 4 years old.

1 01, 2017

2016 Year in Review

By |January 1st, 2017|Categories: Year in Review|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Travel After my dream trip in 2015 to Egypt, 2016 felt like a bit of a mild year in comparison. I didn't travel internationally, instead I had 2 quick business trips (Las Vegas and Orlando), a road trip to Santa Fe, and then a proper little vacation to San Francisco over Christmas. I'd never thought I'd... Visit the Winchester Mystery House. We were driving down the coast when my mom remembered she had visited it 50 years ago. I got really excited when I could prove to my parents that it was on the way back to San Francisco and

31 12, 2016

December 2016 Recap

By |December 31st, 2016|Categories: Blog Recaps and Roundups|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Ah the lovely Christmas season in December! I had a great month! Locally I went to the Denver Botanical Gardens Blossoms of Light for the first time! Travel I spent Christmas in San Francisco! This was my second time to San Fran, but the last time was after I recently had ankle surgery and so couldn't really walk that far. So this time I was all GO GO GO! I did and saw so much but still need to make it back! I also got approved for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck! So no more SSSS list cause I'm a Trusted Traveler now!!

29 12, 2016

UNESCO World Heritage Sites

By |December 29th, 2016|Categories: Attractions & Sights, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

"Heritage is our legacy from the past, what we live with today, and what we pass on to future generations. Our cultural and natural heritage are both irreplaceable sources of life and inspiration." - UNESCO There are thousands of world heritage sites. I've been to 30 of them: Salzburg Austria Historic Centre of the City of Salzburg A turtle in Belize Belize Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System Ramses Temple at Abu Simbel Egypt Ancient Thebes with its Necropolis Historic Cairo Memphis and its Necropolis – the Pyramid Fields from Giza to

26 12, 2016

Museum Monday: Giant Ground Sloth

By |December 26th, 2016|Categories: Museums, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

A Giant Ground Sloth at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC. They could reach up to 20 feet in length although this one is *only* 13 feet tall. Museum Monday is an every other week series about museum news, objects, and reviews.

24 12, 2016

Souvenir Saturday: German Porcelain Candle House

By |December 24th, 2016|Categories: Souvenirs, Travel|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |1 Comment

One souvenir that you'll see commonly at German Christmas Markets are these little ceramic, clay, or porcelain houses. (Although now you'll see all types of buildings including churches to castles.) Mine are from Kastel Keramik Haus (or they are also known as Lichthauser) and I purchased it at my first Christmas Market in Frankfurt. It was the last night of their market, and so I got some of these little houses for 50% off. They either have a hole in a the back, or separate into two pieces so you can place a candle within it. You'll see the light flickering